Georgia firm adds ‘medical tourism’ to benefits

Employees of IDMI Systems in Warner Robins, Ga., who are willing to travel out of the United States for medical procedures could pay 80% less than they would if they had surgery at home.

The firm, which develops automation software for the insurance industry, has added an international medical travel option to its employee health plan.

Employees and dependents covered by the company’s self-funded health plan can visit any of 29 hospitals and four dental clinics around the world—most with U.S. board-certified physicians on staff—for care through a network run by Companion Global Healthcare.

IDMI’s risk management director, Bill Ford, calls the benefit “medical tourism” and says the organization saves thousands of dollars in medical costs when an employee is treated at a hospital in the overseas network, while the employee saves on out-of-pocket costs through preferred pricing.

Some U.S. employers in the network waive deductibles and co-pays for employees who travel for their procedures, and a few pay travel expenses.

Companion President David Boucher notes that traveling overseas for surgery is not right for everyone and not appropriate for all medical procedures.

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